The cause of acne you didn’t know about

Acne is not a result of not washing your face. It can be triggered by hormone imbalances.

It is a sebaceous gland disorder, where hair follicles become clogged with excess oil and dirt.

When the acne bacteria reacts with the clogged pores, acne is formed.

It’s a fact. Almost everyone has faced acne before. But what many don’t realize is that hormones and genetics play a part in triggering acne, and not questionable hygiene standards.

According to the skin experts at The Pond’s Institute, the real reason why teenagers get severe acne is hormone changes during puberty. And this also explains why, as adults, stress — which can cause hormone imbalance — can lead to pimple breakouts.

We spoke to the experts at The Pond’s Institute to find out more.

So, what really causes acne?

Acne is a disorder of the sebaceous gland, starting from the dermis layer of your skin. When a hair follicle becomes clogged with dirt and excess oil, a blockage is formed. Sometimes, this blockage may not even be visible on the skin’s surface. But, this is the root cause of all acne. From this point, the blockage can develop into any of the 6 different types of acne.

How does this lead to acne?

This blockage develops into acne when bacteria react with it. Not all bacteria are bad. In fact, our body co-exists with trillions of microbes and single-cell organisms peacefully. They’re not a problem when our skin barrier is healthy.

But when the skin barrier is not in its prime health, we become vulnerable to harmful bacteria. The bacteria on the skin, p.acne, react with the excess sebum from the sebaceous glands. And this mixture becomes a heady cocktail that leads to acne.

When clogged pores get infected with bacteria, it gets inflamed and forms an acne. The inflammation is caused by fluid trapped deep inside your skin, while the acne rises up and expands to form a white, red or yellow-tip spot on your skin’s surface.

What causes the bacteria, p.acne?

The main culprit? Hormones. When you’re stressed, undergoing puberty or having your menstual cycle, your body produces more hormones, which can encourage the growth of p.acne. But genes also play a part in determining how acne-prone your skin is. Chances are, if your parents had acne, you might too.

Is p.acne caused by not cleansing?

Absolutely not! Acne is not just a result of not washing your face. Most of the time, people who suffer from acne are so rigorous about their skincare regime, they end up harming their skin instead. While cleansing away dirt and excess oil that clogs pores can help prevent acne, over cleansing can also cause acne.

So, cleansing reduces acne but over cleansing causes acne?

Yes. Cleansing with the right products can help fight acne, but overdoing it can cause acne, too. This is because over-cleansing your face strips your face of its natural oils, causing your already overactive sebaceous glands to produce even more oil. When your face feels oily, you’re tempted to cleanse more, resulting in a vicious cycle.

After our discussion with these skin experts, we conclude that acne-free skin is all about finding the right balance— like picking the right cleanser for your skin type. You’ll need a formula that cleans deep while keeping your skin balanced and hydrated but that’s not the only way to get rid of acne. For tips on how to combat acne, read more.